The Connecticut ORS team, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, initiated a project to address the educational gap in substance use awareness. Recognizing the limitations of the outdated resources currently available, the ORS team partnered with Sharece Sellem-Hannah, a Connecticut native and playwright renowned for her work, including “Matthew Rising,” a play centered around the opioid crisis in inner cities, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address this educational gap. The CT ORS team worked in tandem with Director Sellem-Hannah, the production crew and Film Haven throughout the pre-production planning, filming and post-production phases, ensuring the documentary would become a powerful and timely tool in addressing the cycle of addiction from the perspective of inner-city minorities and Native Americans. This film was funded by discretionary funding from ONDCP and New England HIDTA.

After nearly 12 months of dedication and effort, the documentary was screened in December 2023. The event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Alliance for Prevention and Wellness (a program of BHcare), Western CT Coalition, Amplify, SERAC, the Hub and For Cameron. The event brought together a diverse and engaged audience of nearly 150 individuals, including ONDCP National HIDTA Director Shannon Kelly, CDC Foundation VP of Non-Infectious Diseases Rachna Chandora, Dr. Gail D’Onofrio and Dr. Chyrell Bellamy from Yale University, along with members of nearby state ORS teams and the ORS coordination team. Director Sellem-Hannah provided a poignant introduction before the start of the film. The documentary resonated deeply with those in attendance, generating positive buzz and feedback.